Who’s on first? Three of the newest additions to the Twins’ roster

The Twins spent this spring evaluating players such as Jose Miranda Edouard Julien and Austin Martin as they looked to fill out the roster The first two made the group out of camp The latter did not beginning his season in Triple-A where he has spent the greater part of it recovering from two hamstring injuries But all along the Twins knew they would need more than just the players they left Fort Myers Fla with and a look at their current roster proves just that Injuries and underperformance have opened opportunities for other players specific of whom weren t even in the organization this spring One of the first things that manager Rocco Baldelli says every spring training to everyone in the clubhouse is Hey at specific point we re going to need a lot of you guys Don t think because you didn t start the season on the -man roster you re not going to help contribute starter Pablo L pez stated Lo and behold a couple of weeks later we have guys in the lineup that were not part of Opening Day but were part of that philosophy that mentality that we ve been building that everyone in here competes everyone in here can contribute Ryan Fitzgerald who made his major league debut over the weekend after parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues was optioned back to Triple-A on Thursday a day after scoring a game-winning run against Cleveland That move paves the way for shortstop Carlos Correa to return from the seven-day concussion injured list this weekend against Kansas City Here s a look at three of the newest Twins who remain on the roster how they got here and how they fit in Kody Clemens Clemens the bulk impactful of the new additions arrived in late April acquired in a arrangement after rookie Luke Keaschall broke his forearm He had been designated by assignment just days earlier by the Philadelphia Phillies after getting little playing time through the first sparse weeks of the season seven plate appearances He s a left-handed hitter like Julien but offers better defense and more positional versatility And he certainly has made the greater part of his playing time Playing more consistently he announced has helped him get into a good rhythm And already he s had specific big moments walking off Cleveland on Wednesday and hitting a home run at his father s old stomping grounds Fenway Park with both of his parents MLB legend Roger and wife Debbie in attendance Clemens who has played primarily second base for the Twins with a few first and corner outfield thrown in is hitting with a OPS and three home runs in games since coming to Minnesota In the past you show up you re going to pinch hit Clemens mentioned If I don t produce then I m not going to play for five days Knowing I m getting consistent at-bats is nice Knowing that if I do strikeout the first at-bat I m going to get another at-bat The pressure is off Jonah Bride Like Clemens Bride was acquired in a agreement for cash in April He had been designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins after beginning his season for A year earlier Bride who debuted in with the Oakland Athletics hit home runs in games and posted a OPS a number percent better than the league average hitter Bride got off to a quick start in Minnesota crediting the squad s hitting coaches with encouraging him to lower his hands which led to particular early results He had three hits in Wednesday s - win over the Cleveland Guardians and is for since the transaction Bride a right-handed hitter has played a mix of first base and third base along with a insufficient innings at second in limited action for the Twins The Twins expected Miranda to see time at the corner infield spots but his slow start led to his demotion and the Twins added Bride to the mix just a limited days later Carson McCusker The outfielder whom the Twins signed out of independent ball in June has been turning heads and eventually got the call over the weekend when Byron Buxton joined Correa on the concussion injured list McCusker who turned on Thursday was hitting with a OPS in Triple-A this season with home runs in games at the time of his promotion his first two the majors He s had just two at-bats so far going for While there may not be much of an opportunity for him right now particularly with Buxton and Matt Wallner nearing returns McCusker provides a potentially intriguing power threat for the Twins It s honestly kind of a lot to take in he declared over the weekend It s definitely a blessing It s kind of crazy looking back where I was to where I am now that I was able to get here and do it